Notice is hereby given pursuant to the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) Title 119, Rules and Regulations Pertaining to the Issuance of Permits Under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Ch. 23 006.07, Public Notice of Hearing, the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, NPDES and State Permits Section will be conducting a Public Hearing on November 12, 2021 beginning at 9:00 A.M. Central Time (CT) at 245 Fallbrook Blvd., Lincoln, Nebraska.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony and evidence regarding the proposed issuance of the NPDES General Permit NER920000 Authorizing Storm Water Discharges Associated with Industrial Activity, or ISW general permit, in accordance to the NDEQ Title 119 – Rules and Regulations Pertaining to the Issuance of Permits under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System in accordance with NDEE Title 115, Rules of Practice and Procedure. This permit is applicable throughout the State of Nebraska as set forth in NDEE Title 119, Chapter 25, 001.02A. The general permit applies to 29 different industrial sectors as well as any discharge not covered under the 29 sectors that has been identified by the Department as appropriate for coverage. The permit authorizes discharges of storm water associated with industrial activities into Waters of the State of Nebraska, Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) or combined sewer systems as set forth in Title 119, Chapter 10.

This permit will replace the general permit (NER910000) Authorizing Storm Water Discharges Associated with Industrial Activity issued July 18, 2016. The draft general permit and fact sheet were placed on Public Notice during the period of April 29, 2021 through May 29, 2021. During the Public Notice period a request for Public Hearing was received with objections to the issuance of the NPDES general permit. The Public Notice comment period ending date of May 29, 2021 has been extended to the close of the Public Hearing. Written comments concerning the draft NPDES general permit number NER920000 may be submitted to NDEE at the address below until the close of the Public Hearing.

The draft general permit, fact sheet and other public information are available for review at NDEE’s Lincoln Office, 245 Fallbrook Boulevard, Lincoln, Nebraska between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. weekdays, excluding holidays. A copy of this permit and fact sheet are also available on the Department’s website at https://dee.nebraska.gov/home. All interested persons may attend and testify orally or by written submission at the public hearing. Interested persons may also submit written comments by mail addressed to: NPDES and State Permits Section, NDEE, PO Box 98922, Lincoln, NE 68509-8922 prior to the hearing, which will be entered into the hearing record if received by 5:00 P.M. CT, November 6, 2021. Please notify the NDEE at least one week in advance of the hearing if auxiliary aids or reasonable accommodations or alternate formats of materials are needed. Contact phone number is 402-471-2186. TDD users call 800-833-7352 and ask the relay operator to call us at 402-471-2186.